Boost for beer lovers as huge new Wetherspoons pub inside old tourist attraction to open SOONER than expected
BEER lovers will have access to a new Wetherspoons watering hole sooner than they originally thought.
The opening date of a much-anticipated huge Wetherspoons pub in London Bridge has been brought forward – much to drinkers’ delight.
The famous pub chain is opening up at the old site of the London Dungeons, located under the rail arches near the station.
Work began on transforming 50 Tooley Street into The Sun Wharf last month, on March 10.
A lot of work is needed to get the place in shape for punters, so the refurb won’t be finished until August.
But now, JD Wetherspoon has announced the doors will open on August 26, rather than the originally planned August 28.
That gives Londoners two more days of summer when they can find refreshment under the arches.
Plans for the brand-new boozer were unveiled last year.
Like most Wetherspoons pubs, it will be open seven days a week.
However, The Sun Wharf will welcome customers from bright and early, with a 6:30am opening time.
But it’s closing time is more typical – at 12:30am.
Is named is understood to be inspired by one of the wharves – an area where ships anchor – in East London which used to take imports from Australia.
The London Dungeon vacated its original location and moved to County Hall on the South Bank in 2013.
Having first opened in 1974, it originally opened with just historical waxworks, before evolving into theatrical shows you could walk through including events such as the Fire of London and Jack the Ripper.
It was bought by Merlin Entertainments in 1992 and moved locations after a near 38 year stint in the building.
It comes as Wetherspoons has plans to open a number of pubs across the UK this year.
Wetherspoons pubs coming this year
HERE is the full list of Wetherspoon pubs opening this year:
- Manchester Airport – Terminal Two
- Fulham – Fulham Broadway Station
- Bath – George Street
- Beaconsfield – Station Road
- Wetherby – High Street
- Tooley Street – London Bridge
- Fareham – Whiteley shopping centre
- Cleethorpes Beach – Lincolnshire
- Devon Cliffs – Devon
- Kent Coast – Kent
- Haggerston Castle – Northumberland
- Marlow, Buckinghamshire (already open)
- London Waterloo station (already open)
You can see the locations of the new pubs on this map.
The pub giant currently has 796 venues – but this number will surpass 800 by the end of the year.
This includes an opening of a new pub in Manchester Airport Terminal 2 this summer.
Plans have also been approved for a new pub in Fulham Broadway Station.
The chain is also considering expanding to abroad after a string of successful partnerships in the UK.
Tim Martin previously told The Sun: “We are looking at it. We think there are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK. Now it’s a question of going abroad and it’s a possibility.”
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals - but did you know there are more ways to save money?
Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.
Free refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in
their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.